Grafton Girl Scouts gathered to celebrate the Girl Scouts' 100th anniversary.

Photo Credit: Andrea Rogers

Members of Girl Scout Junior Troop 30269 were among the scouts creating bags.

Photo Credit: Andrea Rogers

GRAFTON, Mass. - This year marks the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts and Grafton is celebrating in style with events and service projects that would make Juliette Gordon Low proud.  

On Saturday, Feb. 11, Cadette Troop 30220 sponsored two events to mark the year-long celebration. Over 100 girls and leaders gathered at St. James’ Parish hall in the morning to assemble over 50 “Birthday in a Bag” kits. Each kit included all the “ingredients” needed to create a birthday party including cake mix & frosting, presents, wrapping paper, plates, napkins and silverware.  

The girls decorated the bags and filled them with all the party goodies. The bags were delivered to the Grafton Food Bank and to St. James Church, which will distribute them.  Troops who couldn’t attend Saturday’s event have been dropping off more bags to the Food Bank.

All told, the Grafton Girl Scouts have donated 70 bags to local organizations. The Birthday in a Bag service project was developed by a Girl Scout Troop in Kansas. To date, over 450 troops around the country have participated in the project.  

After lunch, Cadette Troop opened the doors to a “Happy 100th Birthday Party Girl Scouts” event for over 100 girls and leaders.  The Cadettes organized four activity stations where girls played games and learned fun facts about Juliette Gordon Low. Girls were treated to tasty cupcakes, dancing, and all sang “Happy Birthday” as well as “Each Campfire Lights Anew.”

On Sunday, March 11, Grafton, along with troops from the Central & Western Massachusetts area, will be marking the official Girl Scout 100th anniversary date with a “Promise Circle.” Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts have organized this event which will include songs as well as reciting the Girl Scout Promise and Law.  

All are invited to participate.  Please gather at 2:45 p.m. on the Common as we raise our voices in honor of the 100th anniversary.